I ♥ KVETA

This was my choice for Stanley from the Tate bookshop. You can see Ben's here. I have always loved Kveta Pascovska. I have many of her books and have always been inspired by her use of colour, materials and her character designs. This book is a lovely addition and one I feel happy to let Stanley handle. I know, I know, books are meant to be looked at, handled even, {eeeeep!} but sometimes...I just couldn't bear a ripped page!!! Anyway this one has shiny paper and sturdy pages, flaps and movable wheels. All in all super fun for Mum and her little boy! You can buy it here.

 

 

footnote: sorry the pictures are so dark - I took them at 3pm! It is definitely getting closer to Winter over here. Eeeeeeep!!!

LONDON TRIP

Last week Ben had a half day at work so Stanley and I travelled up on the train to meet him at London Bridge. We wandered along the Southbank dodging the crazy rain downpours and looking at all the boats on the river. I had decided to re-join Tate. I used to be a member when I lived in London, but had let my membership slide when I fell pregnant and moved out of London. Anyway now Stanley is at an age where a). he can walk b). he enjoys train journeys and c). he can start to appreciate modern art. Ha. Well obviously 'c' is not really a reason, but I think there are a lot of exhibitions that someone as young as him can enjoy in their own way. Damian Hirst was a good example. Not old enough to be weirded out by all the cows cut in half and the tank full of alive flies & dead flies, he just enjoyed it for what it was. Especially the butterfly room - completely amazing - real butterflies flying about and landing on his Mama! Tate Modern is a nice place to meet people, and yes I think I'll be using my membership as an excuse to meet other Mum's there too. The members room is nice, a bonus with lovely views across the Thames. I can't be going up every week, but as long as I visit every other month the membership pays for itself. And when the Summer has been as disappointing as it has been (up until now!) it is always good to have more indoor activities.

 

Enjoying a slice of lemon in the members room. And if the Turbine Hall was not made for chasing toy cars down it's slope then I don't know what it was made for!

Ben and I enjoyed a beer on the Southbank in a 'pop-up' bar and then just as the rain became too much we headed into Wagamama for dinner where Stanley enjoyed his first proper meal from the children's menu! He did pretty well with it, but avoided all the rice. A hot chocolate for us on the way home and a little warm milk for Stanley, and this was a happy family trip.

♥ S & s

TATE MODERN

we went up to see a friend and her two littlies and get some culture at the tate modern. it's not a stressful trip now stanley is bigger. it was easy on the train when he was teeny tiny and latched to boob and then it was hard in the in between stage when he got bored quickly but couldn't sit up properly. now again it is easy as he is entertained by the train itself, every passing train and every poor passenger that sits near us that he wants to wave at. so we went to see the hirst exhibition and the kusama exhibitions. my friend has a member + guest pass so it was all for free! they are both surprisingly kid friendly when they are that little. you don't have to explain to much about cows cut in half or why that lady is living voluntarily in a psychiatric institution.... You can just wander around making moo noises or saying "ooooh look at all those lovely colourful dots"! i would recommend both if you're in town. unfortunately you weren't allowed to take pictures, so i took these before i got told off :/

what was also nice to see was my book in the book shop. always makes me happy!